Food insecurity is deteriorating in the Sahel

IPC 2.0 Acute Food Insecurity Phase

Would likely be at least one phase worse without current or programmed humanitarian assistance

FEWS NET classification is IPC-compatible. IPC-compatible analysis follows key IPC protocols but does not necessarily reflect the consensus of national food security partners.

IPC 2.0 Acute Food Insecurity Phase

1: Minimal

2: Stressed

3: Crisis

4: Emergency

5: Famine

Would likely be at least one phase worse without current or programmed humanitarian assistance

FEWS NET classification is IPC-compatible. IPC-compatible analysis follows key IPC protocols but does not necessarily reflect the consensus of national food security partners.

IPC 2.0 Acute Food Insecurity Phase

1: Minimal

2: Stressed

3+: Crisis or higher

Would likely be at least one phase worse without current or programmed humanitarian assistance

FEWS NET classification is IPC-compatible. IPC-compatible analysis follows key IPC protocols but does not necessarily reflect the consensus of national food security partners.

FEWS NET Remote Monitoring countries use a colored outline to represent the highest IPC classification in areas of concern.

IPC 2.0 Acute Food Insecurity Phase

Presence countries:

1: Minimal

2: Stressed

3: Crisis

4: Emergency

5: Famine

Remote monitoring countries:

1: Minimal

2: Stressed

3+: Crisis or higher

Would likely be at least one phase worse without current or programmed humanitarian assistance

FEWS NET Remote Monitoring countries use a colored outline to represent the highest IPC classification in areas of concern.

Key Messages

The increase of insecurity is limiting access to pastures for herds in the lake Chad region. The deterioration of livestock body conditions reinforces the decrease in prices. Despite the current harvests of the cold off-season, pressure from displaced populations on existing stocks reduces food consumption for households and the lake Chad region will remain in Crisis (IPC phase 3) until September

The pastoral situation keeps deteriorating due to the rarefaction of pasture in Sahelian areas. Livestock body condition is low, and the price of animals keeps decreasing. Households in these areas, including in Moyen Chari, Mandoul and Tandjilé will be in Stress (IPC Phase 2), the other areas remaining in Minimal (IPC Phase 1) between May and September.

The 2018-2019 agricultural campaign precipitations have started 1 to 2 dekads early. Planting started in the first dekad of May in Sud Chari Baguirmi, Guera, Moyen Chari, South and Center of Salamat and Eastern Sila. Precipitations allowed spontaneous vegetation to grow. Pasture is still average and will be until the beginning of June.

An atypical increase in prices of maize and millet has been observed in Moussoro (respectively of 16 and 7 percent), and for sorghum in Guereda (+19 percent), when compared to average. Increases are due to low maize production in Lac in 2017, low stocks of millet in Moussoro and long distances to reach supply sources (southern part of the country). Current prices are limiting access and deterioration the situation in the Sahel.

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About FEWS NET

The Famine Early Warning Systems Network is a leading provider of early warning and analysis on food insecurity. Created by USAID in 1985 to help decision-makers plan for humanitarian crises, FEWS NET provides evidence-based analysis on some 34 countries. Implementing team members include NASA, NOAA, USDA, and USGS, along with Chemonics International Inc. and Kimetrica. Read more about our work.

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